Dominant Pakistan down China 3-0

Hosts draw first blood in Friendship Hockey Series.


Fawad Hussain December 21, 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan’s first high-profile match at home in seven years saw the Greenshirts deliver a dominant performance, beating China 3-0 in the inaugural Test of the Friendship Hockey Series that saw a very low crowd turnout at the Hockey Club of Pakistan. 

Only a few hundred spectators were present to cheer the home team with a Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official terming the turnout a ‘disappointing one considering there was free entry’.

On the field, however, Pakistan’s show remained anything but disappointing as they made their aggressive intentions clear from the start and kept the visitors under pressure with their fine penalty-corner conversion.

Team manager Khwaja Junaid was happy at Pakistan’s ability to convert penalty-corners in the absence of Sohail Abbas.

“We were good in penalty-corner conversion and I hope we improve this department further,” Junaid told The Express Tribune.

China kept under pressure

China were initially impressive in defence and were able to ward off Pakistan’s forwards before the hosts took the lead with Mohammad Irfan converting the team’s first penalty corner in the 15th minute.

The hosts doubled their lead when captain Mohammad Imran converted another penalty corner through a drag flick in the 23rd minute. The visitors came close to pulling one back just before half-time but goal-keeper Imran Shah’s brilliant save maintained the 2-0 lead.

Pakistan continued to dominate in the second half but China were able to counter-attack, obtaining three penalty-corners but failing to convert. The hosts scored their third goal in the 51st minute when Mohammad Tauseeq scored from yet another penalty corner.  Shah blocked some good attempts on target to ensure Pakistan maintained their 3-0 lead till the final whistle.

‘Improvement still needed’

Despite the win, Junaid was not completely satisfied with the team’s performance.

“A lot of improvement is still needed,” he said. “We may have shown some improvement but we’re still weak in many areas.”

Captain Imran said he was expecting China to give a better showing in the second match today.

We will bounce back: Yi

China captain Song Yi said his team will bounce back in the four-match series. “Pakistan were better today,” said Yi. “But we’ll improve in the remaining matches and will give our best to stage a fightback.”

PHF ropes in Islah, Mehmood

In a bid to obtain maximum input regarding team strategy from former players before the London Olympics, the PHF has succeeded in mending its relations with former captain Islahuddin and Ayaz Mehmood. Both Olympians have long opposed the federation’s policies.

However, the PHF has succeeded in convincing the two to assist the team in its strategy-making for the mega event. Islah said that he did not have any personal vendetta against the PHF but always spoke out against detrimental policies. “I’m ready to give suggestions to improve the state of hockey in the country,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2011.

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